“If you want to compete in the global talent pool, then you have to have your own website. People are already searching for you, or people like you, & every time your website doesn’t come up you lose an opportunity… Having your own website is the cost of remaining relevant & gaining visibility in today’s job market.”- Dan Schawbel, New York Times best-selling author of ‘Promote Yourself’

Why should you setup your own blog or personal website?

Having an online presence is very important in the job market and can act as the one thing that sets you apart from other job applicants in the competitive job market.

Picture this, you and 100 other people apply for a job position and out of those 100 people, around 25 are chosen for an interview. Out of the 25 candidates interviewed, only 15 qualify for a second interview, and out of these 15 people, only two have an online presence achieved by owning and running their very own personal website /blog. This is the one thing that differentiates them (aside from their LinkedIn profiles) from the herd. Now which person do you think is most likely to peak the interest of the interview: The person who just presents themselves as yet another job applicant or the person who has something more going for them such as an online presence? Hmm...I will let you answer this for yourself.

6 Reasons You Need to Setup a Personal Website or Start a Blog

1.) You get to control what other people can find about you online. If people Google your name usually all they can find are your social media profiles such as your Twitter, or Facebook (if you use your real name that is...) and sometimes your Linkedin profile ( if you have one). But when you have your own personal website/blog, it is likely to be among the top results in any search engine.

2.) You make yourself instantly interesting. When people find your personal website/blog online, they are inclined to think 'hmm... Who is this person? What is his/her website about?... Let me click over and see what they have to say/offer '

3.) Stand out from the crowd. Having a blog/website allows you to stand out and differentiate yourself. Even though there are millions of blogs in the webs today, keep in mind that people with blogs do not blog in identical niches/topics. If anyone tells you 'There are way too many personal finance blogs, the web does not need another!' Ignore this hater and instead start your own personal finance blog and give and add your own unique flare!

4.) Pass on something of value to your readers. Having your own website/blog, can help you to communicate and offer valuable information and this in turn can help you to showcase your work/talents to potential employers or partners by providing them with a window to see what you are capable of.

5.) It allows you to network...COMFORTABLY. Whenever I think of networking, I picture a room filled with people suited up in their best business wear armed with business cards and making super awkward small talk then randomly handing out their business cards without making any real connection to one another. With blogging you actually get the chance to build and form a relationship with your readers as well as with other bloggers. You get to know them by commenting on their blogs, participating in podcasts and even collaborating on projects.

6.) You get to be the creator of something. There's something satisfying about taking an idea from concept to life. Starting your own blog is no different as it will gives you a sense of purpose and community to be able have something you are working towards in life, even if it’s something you do once a week or frequently.

For the above industries, you can showcase your blog or website to potential clients in many ways: If you are a photographer, having an online portfolio can help you to showcase the quality of your work to potential clients/employers. You can impress clients or a potential employer as an interior decorator/designer by having an online blog full of pictures of past projects. Allow your clients to see your talents as a web designer by pointing them to your online web design portfolio of past work you have done. The list goes on. A blog or personal website can act as the avenue to help you get hired, build a business, get connected, attract opportunities and differentiate yourself from the pack...But only if you finally GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND START!